Poaching pair’s thrill kills

A Department of Natural Resources game warden in Columbia County says he hopes the public isoutraged by the poaching activities of two men, who allegedly shot and killedhundreds of animals – including several protected species – and left thecarcasses of most to rot.

Casey Krueger, Portage wardenfor the DNR, told the Portage Daily Register that the "thrill killing" by 21 year-oldJosh Kerl of Portageand 22 year-old Adam Stalsberg Neshkoro represents "a ridiculous amount ofpoaching." Kerl and Stalsberg, described as transients, allegedly killedup to 600 mostly small game animals out of season, including hundreds ofrabbits (often 15 at a time), squirrels and raccoons. But they also killeddeer, turkeys, crows, snapping turtles, ducks and protected species of owls,turkey vultures, red-tailed hawks and sandhill cranes, over the course of thepast year.

Kerl and Stalsberg are each charged with 82 non-criminalcitations, but they could face serious criminal penalties as well: hunting deerduring closed season, and hunting a deer at night with a spotlight. Eachpenalty carries a $2,100 fine, the possibility of 60 to 90 days in jail andhaving their hunting license revoked for three years. The two men havepreliminary hearings in August, with Stalsberg facing a $19,000 fine and Kerlfacing a $20,000 fine.